- Evenin', doc. - Hello, Rimfire.
Doesn't the navy ever run out of potatoes?
This ship sure don't.
- Evenin', Doctor. - Ellis. Johnny. Hot below.
Sure is. I'm gonna sleep topside tonight.
Not for long. We're getting the tail end of a storm in the midwatch.
A man can't plan much ahead at all, can he?
Not much.
All right, break it up. Make room for a workin' sailor.
Just keep workin', man.
You're lucky you don't get it on your heads.
Come and get it, you hungry buzzards.
Here's another one.
Who's got a light?
Those sharks.
- Ain't they nasty things? - They're just fish.
Corky, what do you think of the captain they sent to take old Pinky's place?
I ain't supposed to think.
You know somethin'? He ain't left his cabin since we left Trinidad.
What's he doing? Playing acey-deucy by himself?
I'll tell you what he's doin'.
He's seasick! That's what the navy's comin' to.
Seasick feather merchants takin' the place of regular navy.
Man, I just hope this guy knows port from starboard, that's all.
You know what I'd do if I was you, Robbins?
I'd just put in for the skipper's job if I was you.
All right. Did you have your laugh?
Well, now I'm gonna tell you somethin'.
The guy who walks that bridge has got your neck in his hands,
and don't you forget it.
Thanks, Salvador.
- You've got us down 200, partner. - Sorry, sir.
- Six spades. - I thought I could do it, sir.
- Well, don't go off half-cocked again. - No, sir.
- Any sign of the weather, doc? - Filling up in the east.
Jolly, jolly. And I've got the watch.
- I pass. - What? Haven't you got anything?
- Why don't you just look at his hand? - Well, I have to help him along.
- I suppose I could try a heart, sir. - He supposes he could try a heart, sir.
- Two clubs. - Captain Murrell still holed up, doc?
- Far as I know. - Three diamonds.
They might have sent us a captain who had his sea legs.
I guess they do the best they can.
I don't see why they didn't move Ware up, He's been exec long enough.
Mackeson, the only craft I ever commanded was a yawl in the Miami yacht races.
The nearest I ever came to winning was 29th.
The navy was desperate enough to take me,
but not foolish enough to let me sail away by myself.
- Beats me how I ever got this far. - Money.
- I know you're rich. - Don't be bitter, grandpa.
Your bid, Mackeson.
- Four spades. - I'm not bitter. I just wanna go home.
When I've bought a ranch in Nevada, I never expect to see water again.
_ Ensign Mer
Your bid.
- Careful. - Yes, sir. I'm thinking about it.
- Your mouth's open, Ensign. - Sir?
- Are you gonna bid? - Six diamonds.
- Six diamonds? - I'm just backing you up, sir.
You are deliberately distracting my partner.
Pass and double.
All right, Mr. Merry. Dummy.
This Murrell seems like a cold sort of a fish.
Captain Murrell oughtn't to be here at all. He's as weak as a kitten.
A man who gets his ship torpedoed
and spends 25 days on a raft in the North Atlantic
oughtn't to have to hit the ball again with only a few weeks in the hospital.
I guess there aren't enough commanding officers to go around.
Well, at least they gave him an easy ship.
Boy, easy's no word for it. Listen, he'll get more rest on this boat...
- Ship. - Ship, boat. What's the difference?
He'll still get more rest here than he would if he were in a feather bed.
Now, me, I'd like something to happen once in a while.
If the navy ever gets a load of this crew in battle, they'll send us back to boot camp.
I'll look ridiculous with my head shaved.
Kid, couldn't you have indicated clubs? Then I could have gone to no-trump.
We are going down again. And doubled.
Sorry, sir.
All right.
- Your lead, Mackeson. - Now hear this.
Lay before the mast all eight o'clock reports.
Darken ship. The smoking lamp is out on all weather decks.
We'll slow her down a little.
All engines ahead two-thirds.
Bridge, Radar. I've got a spook.
- Radar contact, Mr. Ware. - What?
- Radar contact. - Good heavens.
- Bridge, aye? - Definite spook, sir.
- Strong enough to plot? - Range: 12,000 off the starboard bow.
- Get on the plot, Mackeson. - Captain, aye.
Radar reports a contact off starboard bow, sir.
- Run a plot on it. - Plot's working, sir.
- Then head for the target. - Aye aye, sir.
- Zigzag, sir? - What would you say, mister?
Me? Well, negative zigzag, sir. Give the plot a chance to steady on.
That's right, mister.
- Give me that again, Radar. - Did you get it?
Estimated target's course 140,
speed ten knots, bearing 124 true.
Bring her around to 124. All engines ahead flank.
- Can't seem to make up his mind. - Maybe he wants to see if I'm awake.
- What's the rush? - I don't know, but we're sure juicin' it up.
What's the word?
Radar's got somethin'. We're going after it.
- What's up? ' He 593/8 they got a bOgey_
Hurry. Come on, wake up.
- We're going after it. - You don't wanna miss it.
Gangway-
Gangway, please.
I was here first. Gangway yourself.
Excuse me, sir. Break it up. Let the captain in.
- What's all the crowd about, sailor? - Well, sir,
I guess we don't get much excitement aboard this ship.
- Keep your seat. What's your name? - Andrews, sir.
- What do you make of it? - I don't know, Captain.
- Our speed's rattling the set. - Guess. You're the operator.
It's doing ten knots.
It's got some power, but it's too small a spook to be a heavy vessel.
It might be a fishing smack, or it might be the conning tower of a sub, sir.
- Bridge. Lieutenant Ware. - Mr. Ware.
We're about to lose radar contact at the rate we're going.
Reduce speed to speed of target and get on its tail.
At this distance, we'll make visual contact at daybreak.
- Shall I shake the ship out for a standby? - Not much shaking out to be done.
But ready underwater search gear. If this spook is a U-boat,
he might pull the plug, and we'll have to go after him.
- Who's the senior radarman, Andrews? - That's me, sir.
You track the target.
Any turn or change in speed, no matter how small, don't miss it.
I'll stick on him, don't you worry, Captain.
All right, I won't.
If anybody's gonna be caught with his pants down, it oughtn't to be us.
Seems like he knows his business, to me.
Feather merchant, that's all I got to say.
Signal is to stern, Herr Kapitén. 8,000 meters.
It's either a ship or a false echo.
You've lost it.
It comes and goes.
The sea return makes it difficult to keep the image.
There, Kapitén. There u comes.
Port 20 degrees, Schwaffer.
- Target's course changing to port. - Target's turning left, Captain.
25... 20 degrees.
Maintain your present speed. Steady as you go.
May I ask what your procedure is, sir?
If this is an enemy ship, our signal may be on his oscillator
and he's trying to feel us out-
make a couple of turns, see if we change position.
If we can hold an unchanging position behind him,
he may mistake us for a ghost echo on these heavy seas.
- The signal does not change, Herr Kapitén. - Starboard 40 degrees.
- Target's turning sharp starboard, sir. - Can you estimate the degree, Andrews?
- 40... 45 degrees, Captain. - All engines stop.
You think it might be a U-boat, sir?
Wiggling like one. He may take the bait.
- If he doesn't, he'll crash-dive. - Excuse me, sir.
It holds the same place, Herr Kapitén.
Resume course 140.
Yes?
He's on the hook. He's come back into course 140.
- All engines ahead two-thirds, steer 140. - Aye aye, sir.
Good, Andrews. The target won't be satisfied with one check.
Look for him to make a turn.
Or he may slow down or speed up. Thank you.
- Sir? - Well?
- Do you wanna send a dispatch, sir? - Why? Are you anxious to take one?
- No, sir. I just thought... - We have to keep radio silence tonight.
We might tip our hand to the target. But I'll get one out in the morning, OK?
Yes, sir.
This is the captain. I guess you're all waiting for some kind of word.
We're tracking an unidentified ship.
We're going to try to stay on his tail until morning.
We will breakfast early, and go to battle stations at 0530.
Don't be surprised if we tangle with a pig-boat a little after dawn.
Do your jobs efficiently and we'll chalk one up for the Haynes. That's all.
I reckon we'll just drop an egg right down his periscope.
That'll be the end of one more Nazi, huh?
Or he'll just pop a fish right in our guts, and that'll be the end of this tin can.
- Man, a sub ain't no match for us. - They ain't?
Then how come they hunt U-boats with three destroyers
workin' together up in the North Atlantic?
Yeah. How come?
Your bet.
- Whose watch is next? - Lieutenant Kunz, Herr Kapitén.
Have him come here.
Lieutenant Kunz, report forward.
You wanted me, Herr Kapitén?
Ja, Kunz. Yours is the next watch on topside.
We have a signal on the FMB. I think it's a false echo.
But to check its reaction, you will zigzag twice an hour until daybreak.
If it moves in closer, you will awaken me immediately.
Schwaffer.
Come in, Heini.
That Kunz annoys me. Remind him that we do not salute at sea.
He is new, Herr Kapitén. He will tire of it.
He is new? Like our new Germany. A machine.
Herr Kapitan. You think we are wise in risking that image to be a false echo?
Wise? Expedient. Time is important, Heini,
and we would travel too slowly underwater.
In 48 hours, we rendezvous with Raider M.
We take the captured British code book and we go home with it.
And this is the important thing. Not the code book,
but because, when we have it, we can go home.
Tastes like oil and bilge and green mold.
Sit down, Heini.
Tastes like a U-boat.
I've been in the U-boats too long, Heini.
There was a time when I went to sea with a fresh heart.
That was many years ago.
Now I can only think of going home.
- You want more? - No more, Herr Kapitén.
You think I take too much?
Just enough to sleep.
I cannot rest without it. I think too much.
Never think, Heini. Be a good warrior and never think.
You pay a penalty for thinking.
You cannot rest.
I taught these sons of mine to be good warriors.
Country. Duty. Ask no question.
One is at the bottom of the sea,
and this one is a cinder in a burned airplane.
And I'm glad.
That's the way for warriors to die. Young, and with faith.
I have lived too long.
- We are friends, Heini? - I have been with you since I was a cadet.
That's not what I asked you.
I do not know.
Sometimes I am afraid of you. Many times I do not understand you.
- I am not certain we are friends. - We are friends. Believe that.
We are friends. Because we are friends, I'll tell you something.
I am sick of this war.
It's not a good war.
You don't remember the first one.
I was a Féhnrich in the U-boats. And how proud I was!
We went out in those little sardine tins,
and if we submerged, we couldn't always be sure we'd come up again.
It was a good game we played.
The captain would look through his periscope and sight a target,
and then he did arithmetic in his head
and said "Torpedo los. "
And you know something? Sometimes the torpedo wouldn't even leave the tube.
And if it did, we were most lucky to hit something.
And now I look in the periscope and it gives me the distance and the speed.
I pass this information to the attack table,
and the machinery turns and the lights flash, and we get the answer.
The torpedo runs to its target,
and there's no human error in this.
They've taken human error out of war, Heini.
They've taken the human out of war.
War was different then.
It put iron in the country's backbone,
gave them brave memory.
And even in defeat, it gave them honor.
There is no honor in this war.
The memories will be ugly, even if we win.
And if we die,
we die without God.
You know that, Heini?
I listen to what you say, Herr Kapitén.
It's a bad war.
Its reason is twisted.
Its purpose is dark.
It's not for a simple man.
Lieutenant Crain is coming up, sir. Port side.
What's your best time on reloading depth charges?
It's not so hot, Captain. Some of my boys are pretty green,
but I'd say three minutes, or four.
- Well, you've got to do better than that. - I can try, sir.
That's not good enough. It might be the difference
between stopping the enemy and getting stopped ourselves.
If that's the case, sir, we'll be good enough.
I'll depend on it.
Mr. Ware? I'd like you to stick with the plot
in the pilot house for the time being, please.
Aye aye, sir.
Looks like we've run out of the squall.
Yeah.
Why don't you lay in your cabin for a while?
I'm all right, Doctor.
You getting the feel of a ship again?
Either that, or that pig-boat out there is strong medicine.
I don't see how you can know it's the enemy.
Well, call it a sixth sense if you want to.
I always know when a mind is working the other end of that radar beam.
Interesting. I've heard hunters say the same thing.
They can sense the presence of game.
In any case, this is going to be a disappointed ship if it isn't the enemy.
Yes, they all seem to be a bloodthirsty crew.
The men would like a chance to do what they're here for.
Not much other reason for existence. Not now, anyway.
No, I sometimes wonder if there ever was another reason.
I know what you mean.
I had a baby clinic up in Ohio. It was pretty important to me.
Now it seems like something that happened
on another planet and in another century.
- What was your work, Captain? - This. The sea.
- You were a sailor? - Third officer on a freighter
out of Boston, to Liverpool, Le Havre, and back again.
Some of our crew will be glad to know that.
Our saltiest boys were complaining mightily about getting a civilian skipper.
- Feather merchant, I think they call it. - Well, I am a feather merchant.
- Well, yes, but not exactly. - No, exactly.
On the freighter, we were men against the sea. Here, we're men against men.
Like every other civilian in the war, I had to learn a new way to think.
Why did you change over to the navy?
The freighter I was on was cut in half by a torpedo.
Thought I'd be on the shooting end for a change.
Captain.
- Captain, aye? - Target's increased speed to 13 knots, sir.
Ring up a compensating speed, Mr. Ware.
Aye aye, sir. AH engines ahead standard, 203 rpm, sir.
Very well.
Well, in time we'll all get back to our own stuff again.
The war'll get swallowed up and seem like it never happened.
Yes, but it won't be the same as it was.
It won't have that feeling of permanency that we had before.
- We've learned a hard truth. - How do you mean?
That there's no end to misery and destruction.
You cut the head off a snake, it grows another one.
You cut that one off, you find another.
We can't kill it because it's within ourselves.
You can call it the enemy if you want to, but it's part of us. We're all men.
I suppose there is some reason to lose hope, but I reject it.
I have a family,
and I want something better for them than war, and I think it's possible.
Have you any children, Captain?
- No. - Married?
I married a girl in England. She was killed.
Bombers?
No. When the war broke out, I got passage for her on my freighter for home -
the one that was torpedoed in half.
I was aft when it happened. I watched the other half of the ship just slide away.
There wasn't anything I could do about it.
I saw her run out on the foredeck, and I heard her call my name,
then that half of the ship just turned over and went down.
We hadn't been married very long.
Ring up the fire room. Tell 'em we're making smoke.
- I don't wanna see that at dawn. - Aye aye, sir.
You got more reason than the rest of us to wanna catch this submarine.
- It might be the one that... - It might be, but this isn't my private war.
I'm just doing what I have to do. Like that German captain out there.
I don't like the job, and maybe he doesn't either.
- Weather from Fleet Weather Control, sir. - Thank you.
We're moving into a high-pressure area. We're going to have a clear day.
Set ASW condition one. All hands, man your battle stations.
All repair parties manned and ready. Condition able.
- Quartermaster Quiroga at the helm. - Quartermaster Spencer on annunciator.
Engineering spaces manned and ready. All boilers on the line.
Maximum speed available, 24 knots.
- Sonar gear manned and ready. - Magazines manned and ready.
Sky one, mount 33, manned and ready.
Sky one, mount 32, manned and ready, sir.
- 41, manned and ready. - Mount 31, manned and ready.
- All guns manned and ready. - Very well.
- The ship is smart and quick, Mr. Ware. - We've a willing bunch of boys.
Messenger.
When that U-boat pulls the plug, code this dispatch for Fleet Operations.
"Have tracked U-boat 130 miles, bearing 140. Now engaging enemy."
And give our grid position.
Let's get after the target. Mr. Merry, ring up flank speed.
All engines ahead flank.
I've got him, sir! A conning tower!
Where away?
Three degrees off the starboard bow. 6,000 yards.
- Main batteries ready? - Reported ready, sir.
We might get close enough for a shot before he pops under.
Ship off stern, Herr Schwaffer.
Alarm.
Target diving.
Right ten degrees rudder. Steady up on 170.
Slow to two-thirds speed.
Slow to two-thirds speed, sir?
It's not necessary to repeat the order, Quartermaster.
- Aye aye, sir. - Zigzag, sir?
- Negative zigzag. - Aye aye, sir.
170 at ten knots.
We're a sittin' duck, that's what we are.
- We're presenting our beam to the enemy? - I'm giving him a shot with the stern tubes.
You can't reload those tubes. We can attack up his tail when we want.
Yes, sir. How will we know when he's firing, sir?
I'll give him five minutes to get to emergency depth,
three to come up to periscope depth,
another two minutes to get us in his sights.
If he's any kind of a captain, he'll spit the fish out ten minutes from now.
Level.
Seal.
Engine room clear. Forward torpedo room clear. Aft torpedo room clear.
U-boat all ready for action.
Silent routine.
He is crossing our stern to starboard, Herr Kapitén.
He does not approach.
I do not understand, Herr Kapitén.
He doesn't zigzag, and he holds course away from us.
Give them to me.
He is clever, or he is a fool.
Maybe he is too clever, or too foolish.
We'll see. Bring the ship up to periscope depth.
45.
30.
25.
18 meters, Herr Kapitén.
American escort destroyer.
One stack.
Three-inch guns fore and aft.
Antiaircraft midships. No tubes.
Buckley class destroyer escort. Maximum speed 25 knots.
Carries stern racks and K-guns. Capable of dropping 17 patterns.
Carries latest underwater detection gear.
I think we use the stern tubes.
Ready stern tubes for underwater attack-.
Target red 90.
Range 1,000.
- Torpedo speed 30 knots. - Red 90. 1,000. Speed 30.
Firing position six degrees, torpedo deflection ten.
Running speed 30, depth two meters. Fire both torpedoes.
On.
- Yeah. - On.
On.
- Yeah. - On. Standing by.
Port six degrees.
Firing position, Herr Kapitén.
Torpedoes ready?
Ready.
- Count. - Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,
five, four, three,
two, one, zero.
Torpedoes running.
Running time?
One minute, 40 seconds, Herr Kapitén.
Left full rudder.
High-speed propellers coming in from port side.
Stop port engine. Starboard engine ahead full.
Torpedoes off the port bow.
All ahead standard. Stop your swing and steady up.
The Miami yacht races were never like this.
Hey, Corky. How do you suppose the captain knew when to turn this old tub?
Because he's the captain, and that's the reason he is and you ain't.
All right, let's go get 'em. All engines ahead full. Ring up 18 knots. Steady as you go.
All engines ahead full. Ring up 18 knots. Steady as you go.
Aye aye, sir.
Down to 100. Emergency.
Steer 140.
I do not see how we missed at that range.
We shouldn't have.
I think this American captain is no amateur.
Well, neither am I.
Sonar, Captain. Commence undenrvater search.
Make sure it's piped through onto the bridge speaker.
Aye aye, sir. Lowering sonar projector.
Sonar searching beam to beam, sir.
- Who's on sonar, Mr. Ware? - Lewis, sir. He's good at the job.
That's him.
Got him, sir.
Keep that open.
Target's still on the old course of 140.
We'll turn to 140 when we're astern of him.
Sonar lash, Herr Kapitén. He has made contact.
- Do you wish to change course? - No, not yet.
We wait until he thinks he has our depth.
- We're gonna be on him pretty quickly, sir. - Depth-charge party wants depth setting.
Set to 75. But I may want to alter that before we fire.
Set pattern for 75.
- Set. - Load.
Loaded.
Range 500, closing fast.
- 300 yards, sir. - Pattern set to 75, sir.
Stand by to fire.
Port red three. Down to 150.
He's going deeper. Mr. Ware, reset depth charges to 150.
Aye aye, sir.
Reset at 150.
Secure it.
Fire one.
Fire two.
Come on, Ellis. Get the lead out. Get up off your dime.
- Casualty here. - Fire three.
Mr. Ware.
Stand by.
- Time the reload. - Aye aye, sir.
Get a replacement.
Port red three. Release Bold.
Sonar, Captain. He's using some kind of a decoy. Can you pick him out of it?
He's coming out of it now, sir, heading about 080 degrees.
Left ten degrees rudder.
Reset depth-charge pattern to 150.
Increase rudder to 30 degrees left. Steady up on O80.
Reverse course and take it up to 50.
Level.
Echo faded. I've lost contact.
- Lewis can't find him, sir. - Secure underwater search.
Reduce speed to two-thirds.
Mr. Mackeson.
- I'm giving you a hypothetical problem. - Aye, Captain?
Take our last contact with the target as a start.
Our course was 164, sir.
Give the target a course of 260,
keep him on it for 30 minutes at a speed of four knots.
260, 30 minutes, four knots.
Bring him back on course 140 for 3O minutes at a speed of eight knots.
140, 30 minutes, eight knots.
We'll hold our present course and speed for half an hour.
3O at 18.
From there, give me a course and speed to intercept the target.
Will we make a lost-contact search?
We won't catch this bird in a search pattern.
I'm sure he's come off our keel and scooted in the opposite direction.
Our course would be 239 degrees, speed 19 knots.
We would intercept in 28 minutes from the beginning of the run, sir.
All right, we'll try it.
Target might not come back on course 140.
I think he will. He's got an important mission.
Nothing'll stop him short of being sunk.
Pass the word to battle stations: stand easy.
Aye aye, sir.
He fades, Herr Kapitén.
He goes away.
You think he's given up, Herr Kapitén?
It's possible.
But, to be certain, we hold this course for a while,
before we turn again to 140.
- Captain, sir? - Well?
- How're we doin'? - You're doin' all right, sailors.
That guy Robbins is 180 out.
- This guy is no feather merchant. - You said it.
I had to amputate his fingers.
What was your time on reloading, Mr. Crain?
Three minutes three, the first time. Two minutes 40, the second.
Right on. Give your crew a "well done" for me.
Thank you, sir.
Lie still, sailor. You're out of the war now.
Is it bad?
You've lost your fingers. It's my fault.
I shouldn't have tripped the racks so quickly.
No, sir. I oughtn't to have had my hand on the rail.
I guess I got excited, sir.
We'll get you flown stateside as soon as we put back into Trinidad.
You'll be back in your civvy job in no time at all.
I was a watchmaker.
Operational priority dispatch coming in, sir.
Ask the executive officer to join me in the crypto room.
Well, you won't be making any watches again.
No, sir. But I'll make out all right.
I'd bet on that.
- All right, let's get him to bed. - Did we get the sub, sir?
No, we missed him.
I'd have given my fingers to get that sub.
I don't know anything about sub-chasing,
but I rather think our new captain does. Joe.
If that U-boat is still in the ocean.
I wouldn't give a plugged duck for its chances.
The dispatch is just coming through the decoder, sir.
"Destroyers Luckman, Wald, Green, detached to aid you."
"Anticipate U-boat may be attempting to rendezvous with German Raider S, U or M."
"Reduce radio traffic to position signal once every hour. End."
But it'll take 14 or 15 hours for the destroyers to catch up with us.
Yes. If we're lucky enough to find that U-boat,
he may tow us up against a raider before help comes, and that wouldn't be so lucky.
Those murdering wolves can outgun and outrun us.
How do you feel about it, Mr. Ware?
We're closing the triangle in 14 minutes, sir.
Well?
Let's push our luck.
- Alert battle stations, Mr. Ware. - Aye aye, sir.
Voltage is low on port generator.
- I'll call the LE. - More soup, Herr Kapitén?
More power on the port generator.
It does not taste like tennis shoes, Herr Kapitén?
It's very good. The men mistreat you, Cookie.
They make jokes when they are happy. I don't mind.
- Are they happy now? - They are proud of you, Herr Kapitén.
Thank you, Cookie.
- It's now nearly 50 minutes, Herr Kapitén. - Kunz.
Bring the ship up to periscope depth.
Herr Kapitén, the maneuvers were brilliant.
The Fiihrer would be pleased.
Herr Kapitén? Propellers. 1200 meters.
- Which quarter? - Port.
- 18 meters. - Be ready for emergency dive.
Emergency. Down to 80.
The American has read my mind, Heini.
- Water bombs. - Port red three, down to 150.
- Target turning left. - Left standard rudder.
Set depth charges to 150.
- Where is the bottom? - A plateau, Herr Kapitén.
About 310 meters.
It's not possible, Herr Kapitén, to go that deep.
The pressure would crush the hull.
Port red three. Release Bold.
- The bottom. - Herr Kapitén...
Level.
Stop engines.
We build them good in Germany, Heini.
He's given me the slip again. I'm only getting bottom echoes.
Sonar's lost him, Captain.
Give me a Fathometer reading.
150 fathoms, sir.
That's 310 meters. That's over a thousand feet.
Can he go that deep?
He might like us to think he can't.
Slow down turbines easy until stopped.
I want absolute silence on this ship.
Sonar, this is the captain. Secure, but keep a close listening watch on the hydrophone.
If he is down there, I don't think he'll have time to linger.
His engines are fading.
He's not circling?
He's gone, Herr Kapitén.
We will listen for a while.
Doc, this is really a hot one.
At least they're keeping cool down there.
- "A painted ship on a painted ocean." - What's that, doc?
I was reminded of "The Ancient Mariner." It rather fits us right now.
Something unreal about this waiting out here on a deserted sea.
It'll be real enough if that pig-boat puts a fish in us.
- Any luck, Rimfire? - No, sir.
Them fish are afraid they'll make some noise if they bite.
Here, let me try it.
I guess you're finding this sun hard to take after the North Atlantic.
It doesn't matter. It's always either too cold or too hot wherever there's a war on.
- Well, have a salt pill. - Thanks.
We've been floating around for quite a while.
Think the U-boat's gotten away from us again?
No, he's down there all right.
- Beats me how they get men to do it. - Do what?
Go and sit in that coffin down there.
They're not so bad off.
Actually, they stand a better chance than we do, in this case.
Pretty hard for one ship to surprise them.
Their commander might be able to knock us off if he's smart enough.
- D'you think he is? - What, smart enough?
We'll know that when it happens.
I wonder what sort of man he is.
Well, he's got his share of guts, I know that.
If he weren't so bullheaded about coming back on course 140,
he could have kissed us goodbye a long time ago, that's all I know.
I have no idea what he is, or what he thinks.
I don't wanna know the men I'm trying to destroy.
Yes, I know.
The American must be far away by this time.
It's a curious thing, but I know he's there, waiting.
All right, we go. Silent routine, 140.
Level.
Course will be 140.
Continue silent routine.
Lewis, get up. We got somethin'.
- Bridge, Sonar. - Go ahead, Sonar.
- Propeller cavitation, deep and slow. - Can you get a heading?
Can you figure a heading? Lewis thinks he's moving southeast.
Coming back on 140 again. Alert battle stations.
Commence underwater search.
Give me minimum rpm on both shafts. Steer 140.
Propellers, Herr Kapitén.
He's a devil, Heini.
Somehow...
somehow we must lose him.
Or kill him.
- He's pinpointed. - Ready to close in?
No. Pass the word:
I want a conference with all officers and chiefs in the wardroom.
Boatswain's mate. Pass the word.
All officers and chiefs in the wardroom on the double.
We're at a disadvantage because he can turn sharper than we can.
We can shake him up, but a death blow'd be pure luck.
We've expended a third of our depth charges.
The U-boat can stay underwater for another 24 hours if he wants to.
If we run out of depth charges, the offensive will be theirs,
and we'd have to break contact to get away from his torpedoes.
But we can't follow him and wait for our ships to join us
because we might get pulled into a trap with a German raider before they get here.
What we're going to do is to fight a delaying action.
The enemy's about a thousand yards ahead.
We'll hold this distance for a little while.
Then we'll run in, lay one pattern of charges,
drop back, wait for one hour, and attack again.
We can keep this routine up for seven hours.
He can't get anywhere very fast,
and our ships should be here by the end of that period.
He might even surface.
Being inside a submarine under attack is the worst experience you can imagine.
After they see what we're doing,
they might prefer to surrender, or at least shoot it out.
I want you all to get as much rest as you can.
Stand easy at your stations, but be ready every time we lunge.
It's going to be a long, dull job, but it's a damn sight worse for the Germans.
We'll begin the routine at 1500.
Herr Kapitén, aft torpedo room. We've got trouble here.
Take command.
Stay away from me.
We can do nothing with him, Herr Kapitén.
Come here, son.
Give me the wrench.
Give it to me.
You will come to attention.
It's a part of our work to die.
But we are not going to die.
Do you believe me?
He gets more accurate. He will tear us apart the next time.
- What do you suggest, Kunz? - Surface, Herr Kapitén. Surrender.
- Holem? - I am not concerned, Herr Kapitén.
- Schwaffer? - I say go on.
- The condition of the ship? - We are not yet hurt.
But we cannot escape.
It will be your privilege to die for the new Germany. Put this on the ship's turntable.
But the sound will carry, Herr Kapitén.
It will help the American to know our position.
Put it on.
- Herr Kapitén, you cannot do this. - Sing it, Heini.
For you, my friend, and you...
Sing it, Heini.
...all of us together, here's a toast to life and to laughter and song
Good beer, my friend...
Sing it, Kunz. Sing it, Holem.
Sing it, everybody.
...as we sing loud and strong
Fill up the flowing steins again with foam on every lip
We'll give a skol and shout "Jawohl!" in lasting fellowship
And when we eye a Lorelei with captivating ways
May we drink to love all our livelong days
To you, my friend, and you, my friend, and all of us together
Here's a toast to life and to laughter and song
Good beer, my friend, good cheer, my friend, through every kind of weather
Make the welkin ring as we sing loud and strong
Fill up the flowing steins again with foam on every lip
We'll give a skol and shout "Jawohl!" in lasting fellowship
Bridge, Sonar. I'm getting screwy noises from the hydrophone.
Sonar reports screwy noises from the target.
Tell him to cut it in on speaker, Ensign.
Put it on the line, Lewis.
And when we eye a Lorelei with captivating ways
They're havin' a ball down there.
I don't think our psychology's working, Captain.
No, it's working all right. I almost wish it wasn't.
All ahead for attack, Mr. Ware.
Maybe we can rip him open in the middle of a waltz.
Schwaffer.
Secure oil valves two and three.
Number four.
The valves will not contain the oil, Herr Kapitén.
Empty belly tanks into the sea.
Oil slick off the starboard quarter, sir. It's a big one.
Sonar, we may have hit him hard. Are his props turning?
Sorry, sir, he doesn't seem to be a bit dead.
He's going away at a good clip to starboard.
- Right ten degree rudder. - Stand by to fire, sir?
No, we'll ride his tail again.
Let him digest that last one. He can't stay down much longer.
Come back on 140.
- Schwaffer? - Yeah?
Ask Braun which way the American turned after the attack.
He turned to starboard, Herr Kapitén.
Now I will show you something.
Each time he has attacked,
we have turned off to port or starboard to avoid the attack.
He drops his water bombs and runs on for 300 or 400 meters,
and then turns, to fall back on our stern.
He doesn't always turn the same way, but twice he did,
to run parallel with our course for a very few minutes.
In those minutes he was vulnerable.
If he does it again, we will be ready.
There will not be time to come up to periscope depth.
But it's possible.
If we spread the four bow torpedoes,
fired all at once, angled a few degrees apart,
one may hit.
One will be enough.
But if he does not turn parallel to our course, what can we do?
We will survive until he does.
Weather from Fleet Weather Control, sir.
- Mr. Ware. - Yes, sir?
The weather's gonna get worse before dawn. There's wind in it.
It's gonna be difficult to keep a fix on the target in the heavy sea.
- We may as well try to finish him off. - Immediately?
Immediately. Inform Mr. Crain we'll throw everything we have left at the target.
- You understand? - Herr Kapitéin, the destroyer is closing.
- He comes early. - We are ready, Herr Kapitén.
You understand there will not be the usual routine?
Seal torpedo.
- Mr. Ware, set depth charges to 100. - Aye aye, sir.
- Target turning to port, sir. - Stand by to fire.
Left ten degrees rudder.
Fire.
He fires too shallow. Up to 50.
Now, American, turn the right way and I'll give you a pretty present.
Plot reports he's off our stern. Course still 140.
Give her a right 15 degree rudder. We'll make a beam attack.
He is turning. Starboard 20 degrees.
Halt course.
Go ahead, Sonar. High-speed propeller effect, all on starboard side.
Stop port engine. Left full rudder.
It's a hit.
Silence.
Come on now. Under both arms, man.
- He's only got one arm, sir. - Get him to starboard. Easy, boys.
We took the fish to forward fire room- Fore and aft bulkheads, blown out.
- Fire room and engine room, flooded. - Can the pumps keep us afloat?
- If they can, it won't be for long. - Well, make it as long as you can.
- Aft engine, what's your damage? - A few valves loose,
and we're taking water, but we're still getting steam.
- How long before you flood out? - 30 minutes, maybe a little more.
Stop your engines,
but be ready to give me all the power you have the instant I ask for it.
Mr. Ware, get a party and light some fires on deck. Use mattresses and gasoline.
I want it to look as if the ship is burning.
The pumps are operating, but it's hopeless.
I'm sure it is. You go along with Ware and see if you can give him a hand.
Radio, this is the captain. Send this emergency dispatch to Operations.
"Hit by torpedo. Request immediate assistance."
His engines have stopped. We'll go up to periscope depth.
- Periscope depth. - 18 meters.
That's enough. Get out of here.
Attention, everyone. This is the captain. I want all of you to listen carefully.
They got one in where it would do the most damage and we're going to lose the ship.
But we still have a kick left. We're going to try to use it.
I am hoping that playing dead and the fire will bring the enemy to the surface.
Except for securing crew and the gun crew of mount 31, I want you all to abandon ship.
Repeat: abandon ship.
Get as far away as quickly as you can.
It's possible the enemy will put another fish into us without warning.
Now get going. Good luck.
- 18 meters, Herr Kapitéin. - Steady keel.
We torpedo on the surface. Take it up.
- Captain. - Submarine off starboard bow.
This side.
I'm half-surprised he took the bait.
The first foolish thing he's done. That makes us even.
Tell him that in five minutes I will finish off his ship.
Ready, Herr Kapitén.
He's given us five minutes. Signalman.
Take this message. Say "Message understood." Add a "thank you."
Mount 31, this is the captain.
That sub'll come close abeam.
As soon as he's broadside, give him a shell in the stern.
If we're lucky, we oughta have a sitting duck.
Your second target is his deck gun,
but be quick, 'cause he'll start shooting when we do.
When I give the command to fire, continue at will.
Signalman, no point in you and the talker staying aboard any longer.
Aye aye, sir. Good luck, sir.
Mr. Ware. Your papers say you were captain of a racing yacht before the war.
You must have a good eye for speed and distance.
- I think I do. - Would you like to take the helm?
My pleasure, Captain.
This will not take long. Use only one torpedo, Schwaffer.
Engine room, this is the captain. Can I still depend on you?
Say the word, and I'll give you all we've got.
- Crack your throttle wide and get out. - Turn it on full and get outta here.
Fire.
Fire, Kunz.
Secondary, fire at the bridge.
Set the automatic detonators and get the men out of the ship.
Get going-
- Where's Schwaffer? - I don't know, Herr Kapitén.
- But the detonators are set, Herr Kapitén. - Get overboard.
I'll take you up, Heini. Come on.
- Hurry up. - Come on, let's go.
Come on, Heini.
- All clear. The boat's laying off stern for us. - Right behind you.
Can't you get in closer? The captain's behind me.
The captain's still aboard. There, on the deck.
- We gotta help him. Get in there. - Those U-boats have detonators.
I don't care what they have. Take this boat in - now.
There's no fire on the port side. We go over that way.
Do you understand English? Port side.
Not much time. You go. I'll bring this man.
Can't you see'? This man's dying.
He is my friend.
Stay where you are, Captain.
Come on, you guys, let's get up there.
This way. Get up there.
Hurry, sir, I'm double-parked downstairs.
- That's it, Mr. Ware. That's everybody. - OK, get this thing outta here.
Remember our talk on the bridge, the weighty one? Death and destruction?
You might be interested to know that I've seen another reason for hope.
Found it in a funny place, too.
In the middle of an ocean, right in the middle of a war.
You had to come a long way to find it, didn't you, doc?
It was worth the trip.
Maybe.
I should have died many times, Captain,
but I continue to survive, somehow.
This time, it was your fault.
I didn't know. Next time, I won't throw you the rope.
I think you will.